Miniature long range imaging engine with auto-focus, auto-zoom, and auto-illumination system

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems to implement a miniature long range imaging engine with auto-focus, auto-zoom, and auto-illumination are disclosed herein. An example method includes detecting, by a microprocessor, a presence of an aim light pattern within the FOV; determining, by the microprocessor and in response to the detecting, a target distance of an object in the FOV based on a position of the aim light pattern in the FOV, the target distance being a distance from the imaging engine to the object; causing, by the microprocessor, a variable focus optical element to focus on the object based on the target distance; responsive to making a first determination, by the microprocessor, selecting, based on the target distance, one of a plurality of zoom operation modes; and responsive to making a second determination, by the microprocessor, selecting, based on the target distance, one of a plurality of illumination modes.

BACKGROUND

Industrial scanners and/or barcode readers may be used in warehouseenvironments and/or other similar settings. These scanners may be usedto scan barcodes and other objects. In some environments, high poweredscanners capable of scanning or resolving barcodes (e.g., 5 millimeterto 100 millimeter wide, Code 128 barcodes) across a wide range ofdistances, such as from a few inches to tens of feet, or more, may bedesirable. Such systems require larger optics (e.g., imaging lenssystems greater than approximately 6 millimeters in overall diameter) inorder to meet performance requirements, but there remains a compromisebetween the lens system having a specific size while being constrainedby the overall dimensions of the housing and the chassis. Further,compact imaging systems require high precision alignment of optics toprevent optical distortion, which can result in reduced efficiency ofscanning rates, or faulty equipment. Moreover, accurately scanningbarcodes over a wide range of distances in a various environmentsrequires appropriate focus, illumination, and zoom capabilities.

Accordingly, there is a need for improved accessories having improvedfunctionalities.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, the present invention is a method for range findingand for detecting and imaging objects using an imaging engine having animaging assembly having a field of view. The method includes detecting,by a microprocessor, a presence of an aim light pattern within the FOV;determining, by the microprocessor and in response to the detecting, atarget distance of an object in the FOV based on a position of the aimlight pattern in the FOV, the target distance being a distance from theimaging engine to the object; causing, by the microprocessor, a variablefocus optical element to focus on the object based on the targetdistance; responsive to making a first determination, by themicroprocessor, selecting, based on the target distance, one of aplurality of zoom operation modes; and, responsive to making a seconddetermination, by the microprocessor, selecting, based on the targetdistance, one of a plurality of illumination modes.

In a variation of this embodiment, the plurality of zoom operation modesincludes at least two of: (i) an image binning mode, (ii) an imagecropping mode, and (iii) an image interleaving mode.

In another variation of this embodiment, selecting one of the pluralityof zoom operation modes includes: responsive to determining the targetdistance to be less than a lower threshold value, selecting the imagebinning mode; responsive to determining the target distance to begreater than an upper threshold value, selecting the image croppingmode; and, responsive to determining the target distance to be betweenthe lower threshold value and the upper threshold value, selecting theimage interleaving mode.

In yet another variation of this embodiment, the lower threshold valueis at most 12 inches and the upper threshold value is at least 24inches.

In still yet another variation of this embodiment, the plurality ofillumination operation modes includes at least two of: (i) a powersaving mode, (ii) a near illumination mode, and (iii) a far illuminationmode.

In another variation of this embodiment, selecting one of the pluralityof illumination operation modes includes: responsive to determining thetarget distance to be less than a lower threshold value, selecting thepower saving mode; responsive to determining the target distance to begreater than an upper threshold value, selecting the far illuminationmode; and, responsive to determining the target distance to be betweenthe lower threshold value and the upper threshold value, selecting thenear illumination mode.

In yet another variation of this embodiment, the lower threshold valueis at most 24 inches and the upper threshold value is at least 24inches.

In still yet another variation of this embodiment, the microprocessortransmits a signal to cause the imaging engine to change to one of theplurality of illumination operation modes after a predetermined delayperiod elapses after making the determination.

In another variation of this embodiment, the microprocessor determinesto change to a different one of the plurality of illumination operationmodes during the predetermined delay period and the method furtherincludes changing the signal based on the different one of the pluralityof illumination operation modes before transmitting the signal; andresetting the predetermined delay period in response to the updating.

In yet another variation of this embodiment, the variable focus opticalelement is a ball-bearing motor lens.

In still yet another variation of this embodiment, the object is abarcode, and further includes: cropping a region of interest (ROI)including the barcode and decoding the barcode.

In another variation of this embodiment, the method further includesdisplaying, to a user, the target distance on a display communicativelycoupled to the microprocessor.

In another embodiment, the present invention is an imaging engine forrange finding and detecting objects, the imaging engine having animaging assembly having a field of view (FOV). The imaging enginecomprises a variable focus optical element disposed along an opticalaxis to receive light from an object of interest; an imaging sensordisposed along the optical axis to receive light from the variable focusoptical element; a digital zoom module configured to modify an imagereceived from the imaging sensor; an aiming module configured togenerate and direct an aim light pattern; an illumination moduleconfigured to provide first illumination along a first illumination axisand second illumination along a second illumination axis, theillumination axis not coaxial with the first illumination axis; and amicroprocessor and computer-readable media storing machine readableinstruction that, when executed, cause the imaging engine to: detect apresence of the aim light pattern in the FOV; in response to thedetecting, determine a target distance of the object in the FOV based ona position of the aim light pattern in the FOV, the target distancebeing a distance from the imaging engine to the object; responsive tomaking a first determination, select, based on the target distance, oneof a plurality of zoom operation modes; and responsive to making asecond determination, select, based on the target distance, one of aplurality of illumination operation modes; wherein the variable focusoptical element, the digital zoom module, the aiming module, and theillumination module are communicatively coupled to the microprocessor.

In a variation of this embodiment, selecting one of the plurality ofzoom operation modes includes: responsive to determining the targetdistance to be less than a lower threshold, selecting an image binningmode; responsive to determining the target distance to be greater thanan upper threshold value, selecting an image cropping mode; andresponsive to determining the target distance to be between the lowerthreshold value and the upper threshold value, selecting an imageinterleaving mode.

In another variation of this embodiment, the digital zoom module isconfigured to, responsive to selecting the image binning mode, binpixels of the image using at least one of: 2×2 pixel binning, 3×3 pixelbinning, or 4×4 pixel binning.

In yet another variation of this embodiment, the digital zoom module isconfigured to, responsive to selecting the image cropping mode, crop aportion of the image sized to at least one quarter of the image.

In still yet another variation of this embodiment, the digital zoommodule receives the image with a resolution of at least 3 megapixels andzooms on the image with a resolution in a range of 0.5 to 2 megapixels.

In another variation of this embodiment, selecting one of the pluralityof illumination modes includes: responsive to determining the targetdistance to be less than a lower threshold, selecting reduced powermode; responsive to determining the target distance to be greater thanan upper threshold value, selecting a far illumination mode; andresponsive to determining the target distance to be between the lowerthreshold value and the upper threshold value, selecting a nearillumination mode.

In yet another variation of this embodiment, selecting the zoomoperation mode includes: responsive to determining the target distanceto be less than a first lower threshold, selecting an image binningmode; responsive to determining the target distance to be greater than afirst upper threshold value, selecting an image cropping mode; andresponsive to determining the target distance to be between the firstlower threshold value and the first upper threshold value, selecting animage interleaving mode; and wherein selecting the illuminationoperation mode includes: responsive to determining the target distanceto be less than a second lower threshold, selecting reduced power mode;responsive to determining the target distance to be greater than asecond upper threshold value, selecting a far illumination mode; andresponsive to determining the target distance to be between the secondlower threshold value and the second upper threshold value, selecting anear illumination mode.

In still yet another variation of this embodiment, the first upperthreshold value and the second upper threshold value are equal.

In another variation of this embodiment, the first upper threshold valueand the second upper threshold value are at least 40 inches, the firstlower threshold value is at most 8 inches, and the second lowerthreshold value is at most 24 inches.

In yet another variation of this embodiment, the imaging sensor is arolling shutter sensor configured to operate in at least (i) a firststate wherein an obfuscator of the rolling shutter sensor obfuscates amajority of radiation propagating along the optical axis and (ii) asecond state wherein the obfuscator of the rolling shutter sensortransmits a majority of radiation propagating along the optical axis.

In still yet another variation of this embodiment, the rolling shuttersensor is communicatively coupled to the microprocessor and the machinereadable instructions, when executed, further cause the imaging engineto transition the rolling shutter sensor between the first state and thesecond state.

In another variation of this embodiment, the rolling shutter sensor hasa pixel size of at most 2.0 micrometers.

In yet another variation of this embodiment, the illumination moduleincludes at least: a first illumination source configured to provide thefirst illumination; a second illumination source configured to providethe second illumination; a collimator element configured to collimatethe first illumination and the second illumination; and a microlensarray element configured to receive the first illumination and thesecond illumination from the collimator element and further to provide afirst output illumination field and a second output illumination field.

In still yet another variation of this embodiment, the firstillumination source includes a first white LED and the secondillumination source includes a second white LED.

In another variation of this embodiment, the first output illuminationfield corresponds with a first modification of the image and the secondoutput illumination field corresponds with a second modification of theimage.

In yet another variation of this embodiment, at least one of the firstoutput illumination field or the second illumination field extends atleast 170 inches with no ambient light.

In still yet another variation of this embodiment, the aiming moduleincludes at least a beam source assembly having a beam source forgenerating the aim light pattern from an exit surface, wherein the exitsurface defines a central axis along which an input light is topropagate; and a collimator assembly having a lens group that defines atilt axis, wherein the tilt axis has a tilt angle relative to thecentral axis and the lens group is positioned to aim light pattern fromthe central axis onto the tilt axis.

In another variation of this embodiment, the aiming module generates anddirects the aim light pattern in a pulsed laser driving mode.

In yet another variation of this embodiment, the aim light pattern has awavelength of at least 505 nanometers and at most 535 nanometers.

In still yet another variation of this embodiment, the variable focusoptical element is a ball-bearing motor lens.

In another variation of this embodiment, the ball-bearing motor lens hasa pupil diameter of at least 2.0 millimeters and a focus range from 3inches to infinity.

In yet another variation of this embodiment, the object of interest is abarcode and wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed,further cause the imaging engine to decode the barcode.

In still yet another variation of this embodiment, the system furtherincludes a display communicatively coupled to the microprocessor,wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, further causethe imaging engine to display the distance to a user on the display.

In another variation of this embodiment, the imaging engine furthercomprises a chassis including a body defining at least one cavity,wherein each of the variable focus optical element, the imaging sensor,the digital zoom module, the aiming module, the illumination module, andthe microprocessor and computer-readable media are each at leastpartially disposed within the at least one cavity.

In yet another variation of this embodiment, the imaging sensor is asingle imaging sensor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer toidentical or functionally similar elements throughout the separateviews, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated inand form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrateembodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention, and explainvarious principles and advantages of those embodiments.

FIG. 1 illustrates a front elevation view of an example scannercontaining an example imaging assembly for capturing images of an objectin accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the example imaging assembly ofFIG. 1 in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of an example lens holder for usewith the example imaging assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2 in accordance withvarious embodiments;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an example scanner containingthe example imaging assembly of FIGS. 2 and 3 in accordance with variousembodiments;

FIG. 5 illustrates a top plan view of the example scanner of FIGS. 1-4in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example aiming moduleincorporated into the imaging assembly of FIGS. 1-5 in accordance withvarious embodiments;

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example imaging systemimplemented as a rolling shutter lens scanner and incorporated into thescanner of FIGS. 1-5 in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example illuminationmodule incorporated into the scanner of FIGS. 1-5 in accordance withvarious embodiments;

FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram of an example digital zoom moduleincorporated into the imaging assembly of FIGS. 1-5 in accordance withvarious embodiments;

FIG. 10 is an example flow diagram of a method for configuring andcontrolling various modules of the scanner of FIGS. 1-5 in accordancewith various embodiments;

FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective front and back view of an opticalimaging reader in accordance with various embodiments; and

FIG. 12 illustrates a schematic block diagram of various components ofthe reader of FIG. 1 in accordance with various embodiments.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures areillustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily beendrawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements inthe figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help toimprove understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

The apparatus and method components have been represented whereappropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only thosespecific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments ofthe present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with detailsthat will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the arthaving the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally speaking, pursuant to these various embodiments, ahigh-performance autofocus barcode scanner is provided having reduceddimensional requirements, and a broad range of autofocus distances. Thescanner also incorporates optical alignment features that provide veryhigh precision alignment of the imaging optics allowing for the use ofsmaller, more compact, lenses and optical elements. Further still, thescanner incorporates aiming units that generate aiming beams or aimingpatterns using a compact, low-profile assembly that protects the aimingunit against detrimental back reflections of the aiming beam, backreflections that can otherwise flash blow out compact scanners as wellas illumination units that allow for imaging of targets with little tono ambient light. To accurately focus and/or zoom on a target andcontrol the illumination and aiming units, a controller of the scanneroperates and adjusts various modules depending on the distance of atarget being scanned.

In particular, a miniature imaging engine capable of providinghigh-resolution image capture for barcode reading and/or range findingover long distances is desired. Existing engines use multiple cameras toachieve varying fields of view (FOVs), requiring a larger and lessefficient device. A single imaging sensor system is therefore preferableto existing engines. To achieve a sufficiently small pixel FOV so as toallow for long reading ranges for such a system, an illumination systemis required to provide light for imaging. While an increased pupil forlenses in an imaging engine may increase efficiency, such an increaserequires auto-focusing capabilities to mitigate resulting decreaseddepth of focus. As such, an imaging engine with a single imaging sensor,a variable focusing lens, and a controller and/or microprocessor tocontrol zooming, aiming, and focusing functions is described below.

Turning to the figures, an imaging engine device 100 or scan engine forcapturing at least one image of an object appearing in an imaging fieldof view (FOV) is provided. The imaging engine device 100 includes acircuit board 102, an imaging system 110 operably coupled with thecircuit board 102, and a chassis 150. Further, the system 100 includesan aiming system or aiming module 170 and an illumination system orillumination module 180, as well as any number of additional componentsused to assist with capturing an image or images of an object.

The circuit board 102 may include any number of electrical and/orelectro-mechanical components (e.g., capacitors, resistors, transistors,power supplies, etc.) used to communicatively couple and/or controlvarious electrical components of the imaging engine device 100. Forexample, the circuit board 102 may include any number of componentmounting portions 103, illustrated in FIG. 2 , to receive components(e.g., the imaging system 110) to operably couple therewith, and mayadditionally include a board mounting region 104 used to secure thecircuit board 102 with the scanner housing (not illustrated). In theexample illustrated in FIG. 2 , the circuit board 102 further includes afirst flex tail connector 105 and a second flex tail connector 106. Aswill be discussed, the first flex tail connector 105 is used tocommunicatively couple components disposed within the chassis 150 withthe circuit board 102, and the second flex tail connector 106 is used tocommunicatively couple the circuit board 102 with portions of theimaging system 110 and/or with the aiming module 170.

In particular, the imaging system 110 may be communicatively coupled toa controller 107 of the circuit board 102. In some implementations, anoptical sensor of the imaging system 110 receives light from one or morelenses of the imaging system 110 and, in response, transmits data suchas one or more images to or via the controller 107. The controller 107may cause the imaging system 110 or a digital zoom module 108 of theimaging system 110 to digitally zoom on some or all of the one or moreimages. Depending on the implementation, the one or more images may havea resolution of 4 megapixels, and the zoom may produce images with aresolution of 1 megapixel to be analyzed by the controller 107. Oneskilled in the art will understand that megapixels are approximateresolutions of a sensor and cover a range of potential pixel sizes. Insome implementations, the controller 107 may cause the digital zoommodule 108 of the imaging system 110 to operate in one of multiple zoomoperation modes. In some implementations, the digital zoom module 108may refer to a software module implemented on controller 107 whichcauses the imaging system 110 to perform particular functions. Dependingon the implementation, some operation modes include a binning mode, acropping mode, and an interleaved mode. The imaging system 110 mayoperate in the binning mode by binning pixels in the image (e.g.,binning pixels in 2×2 pixel squares). Similarly, the imaging system 110may operate in the cropping mode by cropping an ROI of the image (e.g.,a quarter of the image). The imaging system 110 may also operate in theinterleaved mode by combining the binning and cropping mode operations.The controller 107 determines the mode as described in more detail withregard to FIG. 10 below.

The imaging system 110 is also operably coupled with the circuit board102. The imaging system 110 includes an autofocus system or autofocusmodule 220 and a rear lens holder 112, both containing lenses forimaging. In some implementations, the autofocus module 220 includes avariable focus optical element. Depending on the implementation, thelenses for imaging may be or include the variable focus optical element.In a preferred embodiment, the variable focus optical element is a lensoperated and/or adjusted by a ball-bearing motor lens or a voice coilmotor (VCM) actuator (i.e., a VCM lens). In implementations in which thevariable focus optical element is a ball-bearing motor or VCM lens, theball-bearing motor or VCM lens may have a pupil diameter of at least 2.0millimeters and a focus range from 3.0 inches extending infinitely(i.e., to optical infinity). In further embodiments, the variable focusoptical element may be any lens or optical element with a similarcapability to adjust focus, such as a liquid lens, a T-lens, aball-bearing focusing actuator and any other similar lens known in theart. Depending on the implementation, the controller 107 may control theautofocus module 220 and/or the variable focus optical element.

The autofocus module 220 is positioned adjacent to and/or operablycoupled with the rear lens holder 112. The rear lens holder 112 is inthe form of a generally hollow body that defines a lower portion 112 a,an upper portion 112 b, and a sidewall 112 c extending between the lowerand upper portions 112 a, 112 b. The rear lens holder 112 may have anynumber of features such as shapes and/or cutouts 113 such that thesidewall 112 c has a generally uniform thickness despite its particularshape that corresponds to the shape of the lens or lenses disposedtherein. These cutouts 113 reduce overall weight of the rear lens holder112, and, due to the uniform thickness of the sidewall 112 c, the rearlens holder 112 is easier to manufacture (e.g., mold via an injectionmolding machine) as compared with lens holders having varying thickness.

In some examples, the rear lens holder 112 is coupled with the circuitboard 102 via the component mounting portion 103. As a non-limitingexample, the component mounting portion 103 may be in the form of a padonto which the lower portion 112 a of the rear lens holder 112 ispressed. The component mounting portion 103 may include an adhesive toassist in securing the rear lens holder 112 to the circuit board 102. Inother examples, the component mounting portion 103 may include anynumber of electrical interconnects that receive corresponding electricalinterconnects disposed or otherwise coupled with the rear lens holder112. Other examples are possible.

Referring next to FIG. 3 , the rear lens holder 112 further includes alens holder mounting portion 114 positioned on an outer periphery of thesidewall 112 c. The lens holder mounting portion 114 includes any numberof upper tabs 116 and any number of lower tabs 120. As illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3 , each of the upper tabs 116 includes a generally planarfacing surface 116 a, a curved upper surface 116 b positioned adjacentto the facing surface 116 a, an angled surface 116 c positioned adjacentto the curved upper surface 116 b, and an inner sidewall 116 dpositioned adjacent to the facing surface 116 a, the curved uppersurface 116 b, and the angled surface 116 c. In the illustrated example,the respective inner sidewalls 116 d of each of the upper tabs 116 arearranged such that they face each other. The angled surface 116 c is agenerally planar surface that forms an angle relative to the facingsurface 116 a of approximately 30°. However, other examples of suitableangles are possible.

Each of the upper tabs 116 are separated by a cavity 117 at leastpartially defined by the inner sidewall 116 d. The cavity 117 is furtherdefined by the lower tab 120, which includes a generally planar facingsurface 120 a, an upper surface 120 b positioned adjacent to the facingsurface 120 a, and an angled surface 120 c positioned adjacent to theupper surface 120 b. The angled surface 120 c is a generally planarsurface that forms an angle relative to the facing surface 120 a ofapproximately 30°. However, other examples of suitable angles arepossible. Further, while the upper surface 120 b of the lower tab 120 isillustrated as a generally planar surface, in some examples, the uppersurface 120 b of the lower tab 120 may be curved. So configured, thecavity 117 is at least partially defined by the inner sidewalls 116 d ofthe upper tabs 116, the sidewall 112 c, and the angled surface 120 c ofthe lower tab 120. In some examples, the width of the cavity 117 maygradually decrease from the upper portion 112 b to the lower portion 112a. The lens holder mounting portion 114 also includes a window 266configured to allow light to a lens or lens group. In someimplementations, the window 266 includes at least an outer shell 266 aand an inner shell 266 b. In further implementations, a lens attached toor part of the window 266 is controlled by an actuator such as a VCMactuator or a ball-bearing focusing actuator. In still furtherimplementations, the window 266 may operate in an open state, a closedstate, or a partially-open state based on instructions from thecontroller 107. Depending on the implementation, the window 266 may bepart of a rolling shutter lens barcode reader as described below withregard to FIG. 7 .

The chassis 150 may be constructed from a rigid material such as a metalor metal alloy (e.g., zinc). The chassis 150 includes a body 151 thatdefines any number of cavities 152 in which components may be partiallyor fully disposed. For example, the aiming module 170 and/or theillumination module 180 may be at least partially disposed within thecavity 152 of the chassis 150. The aiming module 170 may includecomponents to generate a pattern or similar visual indication such as anaiming dot to assist with identifying where the imaging system 110 isaiming. In some examples, the aiming module 170 may include laser and/orlight emitting diode (“LED”) based illumination sources. Theillumination module 180 assists with illuminating the desired target forthe imaging system 110 to accurately capture the desired image. Theillumination module 180 may include an LED or an arrangement of LEDs,lenses, and the like. The aiming module 170 and the illumination module180 are described in more detail with regard to FIGS. 6 and 8 below.

The body 151 of the chassis 150 may include a recessed portion 153 thatis adapted to receive a portion of the first flex tail connector 105(e.g., a sub-board or an interconnect member). The chassis 150 furtherincludes a chassis mounting portion 154 disposed or positioned on anouter periphery of the body 151 of the cavity 150. The chassis mountingportion 154 further includes any number of upper hooks 156 and anynumber of lower hooks 160.

With reference to FIG. 4 , the second flex tail connector 106 includes amounting opening 106 a and a number of interconnects 106 b. The rearlens holder 112 includes a flex securing tab 122 that protrudes upwardlyfrom the rear lens holder 112. The flex securing tab 122 includes anangled engaging surface 122 a which is angled in a direction towards theautofocus module 220. When electrically coupling the autofocus module220 with the circuit board, the second flex tail connector 106 is urgedupward, and the mounting opening 106 a is aligned with the flex securingtab 122. Because the engaging surface 122 a of the flex securing tab 122is angled towards the autofocus module 220, the interconnects 106 b aremoved or positioned against corresponding interconnects 220 a positionedon the autofocus module 220, thereby communicatively coupling theautofocus module 220 with the circuit board 102. In some examples, theflex securing tab 122 may include a notch or other feature used toretain the second flex tail connector 106.

So configured, and as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the imaging system110 described herein may occupy an entire available height between theopposing large flat mounting surfaces of the chassis 150 as comparedwith being constrained by the body 151 of the chassis 150. Further,instead of the chassis 150 being mounted directly to the circuit board102, the imaging system 110 is mounted to the circuit board 102 whilethe chassis 150 is coupled with the imaging system 110. Advantageously,such an arrangement isolates heat of the aiming module 170 and theillumination module 180 disposed within the chassis 150 from the opticalsensor mounted on the circuit board 102, while also providing foradditional optical path length for the imaging system 110.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example implementation of the aiming module 170.The aiming module 170 is configured to generate an aim light pattern toserve as a visual guide for users during operation of the imaging enginedevice 100, in particular for accurate positioning of the imaging system110 and the illumination module 180. In some implementations, the aimlight pattern is an aiming beam. Whereas conventional aiming assembliesare able to generate bright, central aiming dots or patterns, theytypically do so on an axis offset from that of the illumination modulefield of view and imaging system field of view. And for configurationswhere aiming assemblies are designed to tilt the axis of an aiming beam,the configurations are too large, requiring wedges or similar optics, tobe compatible with integrated scanner assemblies, such as thosedescribed herein. In contrast, in various examples, aiming modulesprovide small stack height designs capable of generating aiming dot oraim light pattern axis tilt without increasing overall height of anintegrated scanner assembly.

In the example of FIG. 6 , aiming module 170 includes a beam sourceassembly 202 which has a frame 204 having a mounting plate 206 ontowhich a beam source 208 is positioned. The beam source 208 may be alaser or LED based beam source. In some examples, the beam source 208 isa vertical emitting beam source, such as a vertical cavity surfaceemitting laser. In some examples, the beam source 208 is a side emittingbeam source or edge emitting beam source. Depending on theimplementation, the aiming module 170 may direct the beam source 208 togenerate the aim light pattern and/or beam in a pulsed laser drivingmode with a set or variable frequency. In some implementations, thepulsed laser driver mode pulses the laser at a frequency of 20 Hz, 40Hz, 60 Hz, 80 Hz, or 100 Hz.

In further implementations, the aim light pattern may be red (e.g., theaim light pattern has a wavelength of 630 nanometers to 670 nanometers)or green (e.g., the aim light pattern has a wavelength of 505 to 535nanometers). Depending on the implementation, the aim light pattern maybe limited to an average power of less than or equal to 1 milliwatt butis visible in sunlight at a distance of at least 40 inches.

The frame 204 may be an integrated piece having a mounting surface 210mountable to a mounting surface 214 of a mounting plate 211, which maybe formed with or attached to a chassis 212 to serve as a chassismounting portion. In other examples, the frame 204 may be mounted (e.g.,glued onto or pressed into) directly on the chassis 212, without amounting plate 211. For example, walls of the lower cavity 221 may besized to receive the mounting plate 206 of the fame 204 and fixedlyretain the later in place. In some examples, the mounting plate 211and/or the mounting plate 206 may provide a heat dissipation functionfor the laser 208.

The frame 204 includes a transparent window 215 environmentally sealingthe laser 208 and positioned adjacent an opening 216 that functions asan aperture through which the generated aim light pattern is providedalong a beam axis 218. The frame 204 sits within a lower cavity 221 ofthe chassis 212. In some examples, the lower cavity 221 may beenvironmentally sealed using a transparent window at an upper end (notshown). The chassis 212 further includes an outer cavity 223 havingchassis mounting portions (surfaces) 225 onto which the collimatorassembly 222 may be placed during assembly and held in place by anadhesive, such as a UV curable adhesive 227 surrounding a lower outeredge of the assembly 222. Further a transparent window 248 may bemounted to an exit end of the chassis 212, above the collimatorassembly, for transmission of the aiming pattern along a tilt axis asdescribed below.

The collimator assembly 222 is a low profile assembly having a body 224that has an outer surface 224A and an inner surface 224B parallelthereto. The collimator assembly further includes a lens group 226 thatis positioned between the outer surface 224A and the inner surface 224B.More particularly, the lens group 226 defines a tilt axis 228. In theillustrated example, that tilt axis 228 forms an acute angle relativethe parallel outer and inner surfaces 224A, 224B. Further, the tilt axis228 defines a tilt angle, a, relative to the beam axis 218, which mayalso be considered a central axis. Further still, the lens group 226 ispositioned relative to the beam source 208 such that aim light patternand/or beam, incident along the beam axis 218, is deflected onto thetilt axis 228 by the lens group 226. In various examples, the tiltangle, α, is confined by the expression as α>0.5*a tan(h/F), where F isa focal length of the lens group 226 and h is a clearance height of thebeam source 208, so as to prevent back reflection of the aim lightpattern and/or beam from an exit window back on to the beam source 208.

In various examples, the lens group 226 includes a first lens 230 at anexit end and a second lens 232 at an entrance end. Both of the lens 230and 232 may be tilted, meaning having a central shared axis that istilted related to the beam axis 218. In some examples, one or both offirst lens 230 and second lens 232 is a semispherical lens, meaning alens whose surface profile has at least a portion thereof formed of asphere or cylinder. In some examples, one or both of the first lens 230and the second lens 232 is an aspheric lens, meaning a lens whosesurface profiles are not portions of a sphere or cylinder. In someexamples, the lens group 226 may be formed of a double convex lenshaving a central axis tilted to be parallel with the axis 228. In someexamples, the lens group 226 may be formed of a lens having symmetricaspheric surfaces, where the first lens 230 and the second lens 232 haveaspheric curvatures. In other examples, the second lens 232 isimplemented as a generally planar surface instead, e.g., a tilted planarface. In various examples, the lens group 226 is integrally formed fromthe body 224 such that it a continuous piece.

As shown in FIG. 6 , in various examples, the optical element 236 is adiffractive optical element and may have a planar outer surface 236A anda diffractive element at an inner surface 2366, the latter beingpositioned to receive the input beam from the lens group 226. Thesealing adhesive 238, therefore, not only retains the optical element236 in the recess 234, but further provides environmental sealing thatprevents contamination of the diffractive element located at the innersurface 2366. In other examples, the optical element 236 may be arefractive optical element or a combination of diffractive andrefractive elements. The optical element 236 is configured to convertthe input beam into an aiming pattern that appears at a focal distanceof the lens group 226. This configuration provides a compact designwhile still allowing for converting an input beam into a complex beam oraim light pattern at the far field, where such patterns can be geometricshapes, such as squares, rectangles, circles, etc. But also more complexshapes such as logos, text, pictures, etc. The optical element 236, aspart of the lens group 226, may further cooperate with the asphericsurface 230 to collimate the incident input beam along with tilting thepropagation axis of the beam. An optical element retainer 243, alsotermed an eye-safety retainer, is affixed to the upper surface 224A,e.g., using an adhesive, to provide further protection againstdislodging of the optical element 236 from the aiming module 170. Theretainer 243 may include an aperture positioned and sized to allowtransmission of the deflected aiming beam or aim light pattern, wherethe remainder of the retainer 243 may be non-transparent. The retainer243, for example, may be formed with a black material or other opaquemedium or even a partially transmitting medium such as a diffuser. Theretainer 243, therefore, allows the deflected aim light pattern throughits aperture but otherwise blocks or minimizes back reflections andstray light from entering the lower cavity 221 and impinging on thelaser 208. As such, the retainer 243 prevents stray light from causingspurious reflections and brightness flares. The retainer 243additionally prevents the optical element 236 from being in the path ofthe deflected aiming beam or aim light pattern, in the event theadhesive 238 fails. In some examples, the optical element retainer 243further includes sensing electrodes positioned thereon to allow anexternal circuit to determine if the window itself has been dislodged(e.g., in response to a received signal, a change in measured impedance,or other electrical detection) providing a warning signal to anoperator.

In various examples, a beam forming aperture 240 is placed first in therecess 234 to provide shielding of the lens group 222 against extraneousoff axis back scattering light, ambient light, or other illumination.The optical element 236 may then be placed on top of that aperture 240.

Referring to FIG. 7 , an example rolling shutter sensor system 300 isshown that uses an obfuscative element or obfuscator 303 to operate as arolling shutter sensor system 300 for imaging an object of interest 302.The obfuscator 303 is disposed inside of a housing 305 along an opticalpath A of field of view 320 of an imaging sensor 325. Depending on theimplementation, the obfuscator 303 may be a physical external optical ormechanical shutter. In such implementations, the obfuscator 303 enhancesthe performance of the rolling shutter sensor system 300. In furtherimplementations, the obfuscator 303 is part of the imaging sensor 325and allows the rolling shutter sensor system 300 to function as arolling shutter sensor system 300. In other implementations, theobfuscator 303 is not present and the rolling shutter sensor system 300operates using electronic means instead (e.g., by filtering out lightreceived by the imaging sensor).

In some implementations, the housing 305 is contained within and/or partof rear lens holder 112. In further implementations, the housing is aseparate part of the chassis 150. Similarly, depending on theimplementation, the imaging sensor 325 is or includes the sensor of theimaging assembly 110. A controller 107 controls a state of theobfuscator between an obfuscative state and a transmissive state. Theobfuscative state is an optical state in which the obfuscator obfuscatesor obscures a majority of radiation to the imaging sensor 325 along theoptical axis A, and the transmissive state is an optical state in whichthe obfuscator transmits a majority of radiation to the imaging sensor325 along the optical axis A. In implementations in which the imagingsensor 325 is a rolling shutter sensor, the obfuscator may move to allowsome radiation to the imaging sensor 325 in smaller subsets—i.e., theimaging sensor 325 receives light in a rolling pattern. In furtherimplementations, the imaging sensor 325 may be disposed and/orconfigured to receive light in a rolling pattern without the obfuscator303.

The imaging sensor 325 is mounted on an imaging circuit board such ascircuit board 327, which may provide power to the imaging sensor 325,control of operation of the sensor 325, on/off board communications ofdata to and from the imaging sensor 325, among other operations andpurposes. In some implementations, the imaging circuit board 327 is partof or is circuit board 102. The imaging sensor 325 may be a CMOS device,or other imaging sensor capable of functionality as a rolling shuttersensor. In some implementations, the imaging sensor 325 is the opticalsensor on the circuit board 102 and/or is part of imaging system 110.The imaging sensor 325 may have a fixed exposure time, or the exposuretime and rolling shutter functionality may be tuned to change theexposure time based on an object of interest, a distance of the objectof interest, an illumination of the object of interest, etc. Forexample, in some implementations, the imaging sensor 325 exposure timeand rolling shutter functionality may be tuned to operate in varyingmodes depending on the speed of a target (e.g., low-speed, high-speed,and very high-speed modes). In a particular preferred embodiment, theimaging sensor has a pixel size of at most 2.0 micrometers.

A lens 308 is disposed along the optical path A to focus images receivedby the rolling shutter sensor system 300 onto an imaging plane at theimaging sensor 325. A window 310 is disposed along the optical axis A toprovide a transmissive surface for optical radiation to pass along theoptical axis into the housing 305. In some implementations, the window310 is the window 266 discussed with regard to FIG. 3 above. The window310 acts as an aperture and may be useful for preventing stray light andoptical noise from entering the housing 305. Further, the window may bea material or have coatings to perform as a filter to reduce noise or toselect wavelengths of light for imaging at the imaging sensor 325. Eachof the window 310, lens 308, and obfuscator 303 are disposed to imagethe object of interest 302 onto the imaging sensor 325.

While not illustrated, a person of ordinary skill in the art wouldrecognize that additional or fewer optical elements may be implementedalong the optical axis for imaging of the object of interest. Forexample, one or more additional lenses, wavelength filters, spatialfilters, polarizers, beam splitters, mirrors, waveplates, apertures, orother optical elements may be employed for imaging of the object ofinterest 302. In a configuration, the object of interest 302 includesone or more indicia indicative of information about the object ofinterest, the indicia being one or more of a 1D or 2D barcode, QR code,dynamic QR code, UPC code, serial number, alphanumeric, a graphic, oranother indicia.

The obfuscator 303 may be a transflective mirror, positioned within thehousing 305 along the optical path A. As a transflective mirror, theobfuscator 303 can be switched between a transmissive state, in which amajority of light is allowed to pass through the transflective mirror,and a reflective state, in which a majority of light is reflected off ofthe transflective mirror. For example, the obfuscator 303 may switchstates in response to an electrical control signal received from thecontroller 107. With the transflective mirror in the reflective state,the transflective mirror reflects at least a first portion of radiationin the field-of-view 320 of the imaging sensor 325. In the transmissivestate, the transflective mirror allows for optical radiation within thefield-of-view 320 to pass through the transflective mirror 355 along theoptical path A to the imaging sensor 325. Optionally, the transflectivemirror could also be switched to a partially reflective state, in whichthe transflective mirror would both reflect a portion of light, andtransmit a portion of light. Such an example may be useful in a systemthat images the object of interest 302 while targeting radiation isprovided to the barcode or object of interest. For example, the rollingshutter sensor system 300 may further include a target radiation source313 that provides radiation 330 to the object of interest 302 for a userof the barcode reader to reference when positioning the object ofinterest for scanning, or when position the rolling shutter sensorsystem 300 in the case of a handheld barcode reader.

While described above as a transflective device, the obfuscator 303 doesnot need to reflect optical radiation. In the obfuscative state, theobfuscator 303 may absorb the radiation, or otherwise obscure theoptical radiation to prevent the radiation from reaching the imagingsensor 325, while the obfuscator 303 passes radiation to the imagingsensor 325 when in the transmissive state. In configurations, theobfuscator 303 may include one or more of a transflective mirror, adifferent transflective element, an electrochromic device, apolymer-dispersed liquid crystal film, or another electricallycontrollable shutter element (e.g., an external shutter) capable oftransitioning between states at a time scale operational for a rollingshutter sensor system 300.

Further, while FIG. 7 illustrates an imaging engine 100 with a rollingshutter sensor system 300 using an example rolling-shutter sensor,imaging engine 100 and/or rolling shutter sensor system 300 may includeany similar such sensor. For example, a global shutter sensor—i.e., asensor in which all pixels of an array are exposed simultaneously ratherthan individual subsets of pixels being exposed at different times—maybe used. Similarly, a lens or sensor system capable of operating in botha rolling-shutter or global shutter mode may also be used.

Next, FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of a ray trace ofan embodiment of an optical assembly 400 of a dual illumination module180. The optical assembly 400 includes a first illumination source 402 aand a second illumination source 402 b. The first illumination source402 a is disposed along a first optical axis, A, to provide firstillumination 404 a along the first optical axis, A. The secondillumination source 402 b is disposed along a second optical axis, B,configured to provide second illumination 404 b along the second opticalaxis, B. In some implementations, the first and second illuminationsources 402 a and 402 b may include one or more LEDs, laser diodes,lasers, black body radiation sources, or other such illuminationsources. In embodiments, the first and second illumination 404 a and 404b may include one or more of infrared radiation, near-infraredradiation, visible light, optical radiation, ultraviolet radiation, oranother type of radiation for illumination of a target for imaging ofthe target.

The first and second illumination sources 402 a and 402 b may be squarelight sources and center points of the first and second illuminationsources 402 a and 402 b may be disposed between 1 and 5 millimetersapart, between 5 and 10 millimeters apart, less than 10 millimetersapart, or greater than 1 centimeter apart. Further, the first and secondillumination sources 402 a and 402 b may be 1 millimeter by 1 millimetersquares, 2 millimeters by 2 millimeters squares, 5 millimeters by 5millimeters squares, or larger than 5 millimeters by 5 millimeterssquares. In a particular implementation, the first and secondillumination sources 402 a and 402 b are 1 millimeter by 1 millimetersquare white LED lights. Depending on the implementation, the first andsecond illumination sources 402 a and 402 b may have sufficientluminance to allow for barcode reading at a distance of up to 170 inchesin ambient darkness, and/or greater distances in at least low levels ofambient light (e.g., 5-10 foot-candles). Similarly, depending on theimplementation, the first and second illumination sources 402 a and 402b output illumination fields 425 a and 425 b in rectangular shapes, coneshapes, or any other suitable design.

The first and second illumination sources 402 a and 402 b may also becircular, rectangular, or another geometric shape. The optical assemblyincludes an aperture element 405 having a first aperture 405 a and asecond aperture 405 b. The first illumination 404 a propagates along thefirst optical axis A through the first aperture 405 a, and the secondillumination 404 b propagates along the second optical axis B throughthe second aperture 405 b. Depending on the implementation, the opticalaxis A may or may not be the same optical axis A referred to in FIG. 7 .The first and second apertures 405 a and 405 b may be independentapertures, or they may be two apertures of a same larger apertureelement, such as two holes or openings in a single material with the twoholes being independent and spatially separated by some distance.Further, the first and second apertures 405 a and 405 b may be a samelarge aperture that transmits both the first and second illumination 404a and 404 b.

A collimator element 408 is disposed along the first and second opticalaxes A and B to collimate the first and second illumination 404 a and404 b. The collimator element 408 has a first collimator 408 a and asecond collimator 408 b. The first collimator 408 a has a firstcollimator entry surface 410 a configured to receive the firstillumination 404 a from the first aperture 405 a, and the secondcollimator 408 b has a second collimator entry surface 410 b configuredto receive the second illumination 404 b from the second aperture 405 b.The first and second collimator entry surfaces 410 a and 410 b may beseparated by a separator element 409 that prevents at least some of thefirst illumination 404 a from entering the second collimator 408 b, andfurther prevents at least some of the second illumination 404 b fromentering the first collimator 408 a. The separator element 409 mayinclude a wedge or wall of air, metal, plastic, glass, or anothermaterial. The first collimator 408 a has a first collimator exit surface412 a disposed along the first optical axis A to provide collimatedfirst illumination 404 a to a microlens array element 415. The secondcollimator 408 b has a second collimator exit surface 412 b disposedalong the second optical axis B to provide collimated secondillumination 404 b to the microlens array element 415.

The microlens array element 415 is disposed along the first and secondoptical axes, A and B respectively, to receive the collimated first andsecond illumination 404 a and 404 b from the collimator element 408. Themicrolens array element 415 has a first microlens array 415 a and asecond microlens array 415 b. The first microlens array 415 a has afirst microlens entry surface 418 a disposed along the first opticalaxis A to receive the first illumination 404 a. The first microlensarray 415 a also has a first microlens exit surface 420 a to provide thefirst illumination 404 a as a first output illumination field 425 a,illustrated by solid lines in FIG. 8 , to a target for imaging of thetarget. The second microlens array 415 b has a second microlens entrysurface 418 b disposed along the second optical axis B to receive thesecond illumination 404 b. The second microlens array 415 b also has asecond microlens exit surface 420 b to provide the second illumination404 b as a second output illumination field 425 b, illustrated as brokenlines in FIG. 8 , to a target for imaging of the target. In someimplementations, each of the first output illumination field 425 a andsecond output illumination field 425 b correspond with an operation modeof illumination module 180 as described with regard to FIG. 10 below.For example, the first output illumination field 425 a may illuminate anear FOV portion of the overall FOV while the second output illuminationfield 425 b illuminates a far FOV portion.

Each of the first and second microlens arrays 415 a and 415 b may eachindependently spread input radiation or stretch an input radiation fieldto provide an output illumination field with one or more dimensionshaving a wider field angle than input collimated illumination. Themicrolens array element 415 may be a plastic material such as Zeonex,Acrylic Polycarbonate, K26R, E48R, or another such material. In someimplementations, the microlens array element 415 may be a glass materialor other optical material able to transmit light. Further, the distancebetween either of the first and/or second illumination sources 402 a and402 b to the second surface of either of the first and/or secondmicrolens exit surfaces 420 a and 420 b may be 5 millimeters, 7millimeters, 10 millimeters, 12 millimeters, less than 15 millimeters,less than 10 millimeters, or less than 8 millimeters to provide acompact form factor for the optical assembly 400.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example schematic block diagram of the digitalzoom module 108. As is noted above, depending on the implementation, thedigital zoom module 108 may be implemented in a separate piece ofhardware than controller 107 or may be a software module implemented onthe controller 107. The digital zoom module 108 receives an image 450taken by the imaging system 110 or otherwise received by the controller107. The image may have a resolution of 1 megapixel, 2 megapixels, 4megapixels, 6 megapixels, 8 megapixels, or any other suitable resolutionfor imaging. In a particular preferred embodiment, the image has aresolution of at least 3 megapixels. The digital zoom module 108 alsoreceives a target distance 460. Depending on the implementation, thecontroller 107 may calculate or otherwise determine the target distance460 using methods outlined above and subsequently analyze the targetdistance 460 using the digital zoom module 108. In otherimplementations, the digital zoom module 108 may receive the targetdistance 460 from the controller 107 or from another piece of hardwarein the digital imaging engine 100. Depending on the target distance 460,the digital zoom module begins operation in an operation mode. In someimplementations, the digital zoom module 108 may operate in multipleoperation modes and the controller 107 determines which operation modethe digital zoom module 108 is to operate in. In furtherimplementations, the digital zoom module 108 may operate in one of threeoperation modes: a binning mode 108 a, a cropping mode 108 b, and aninterleaving mode 108 c. In the binning mode 108 a, the digital zoommodule 108 takes individual pixels and combines the pixels into largerpixels (i.e., super-pixels). In some implementations, the digital zoommodule 108 may bin the pixels into super-pixels with a size of 2×2pixels, 3×3 pixels, or other suitable super-pixel sizes. In the croppingmode 108 b, the digital zoom module 108 crops a portion of the overallimage, such as a quarter, a third, half, or other suitable croppingsizes. In the interleaving mode 108 c, the digital zoom module 108combines the techniques of the binning mode 108 a and the cropping mode108 c. Depending on the implementation, the digital zoom module 108 maydetermine the appropriate binning, cropping, or interleaving based onthe input image 450 resolution and a desired output image resolution.The output image resolution may be based on an appropriate resolutionfor barcode decoding. As such, the output image resolution may be 0.25megapixels, 0.5 megapixels, 1 megapixel, 2 megapixels, 3 megapixels, 4megapixels, or any other suitable image for barcode decoding. In aparticular preferred embodiment, the output image resolution is between0.5 megapixels and 2 megapixels.

Referring next to FIG. 10 , a flowchart 1000 illustrates a method forcontrolling object imaging and range finding by controller 107, whichcontrols each of the autofocus module 220, aiming module 170, andillumination module 180. For the sake of clarity, FIG. 10 is discussedwith regard to the controller 107, autofocus module 220, aiming module170, and illumination module 180. However, any similarly suitablecontroller, autofocus module, aiming module, and illumination module maybe used.

At block 1002, the imaging engine device 100 detects a presence of anaim light pattern in the FOV. In some implementations, the imagingengine device 100 detects the presence through communication between thecontroller 107 and the aiming module 170. In further implementations,the controller 107 receives an indication of the presence from theimaging system 110. Depending on the implementation, the imaging enginedevice 100 detects a presence of an aim light pattern (e.g., an aimingdot and/or a visual indication of a beam) emitted from the imagingengine device 100 and controlled by the aiming module 170. Afterdetecting the presence of the aim light pattern, the flow proceeds toblock 1004. At block 1004, the controller 107 determines a parallaxtarget distance of an object of interest using the position of the aimlight pattern. In some implementations, the controller 107 determinesthe target distance based on the size of the aim light pattern in theFOV. In other implementations, the controller 107 determines the targetdistance based on how bright the aim light pattern is. In still otherimplementations, the aim light pattern is a complex pattern on thetarget and the controller 107 determines the target distance based onthe pattern. For example, the pattern may be a series of vertical linesthat the controller 107 determines the target distance on using apparentdistance between lines.

Depending on the implementation, the imaging engine device 100 mayinclude or be communicatively coupled to a screen, such as mobile devicescreen, computer screen, or screen included as part of the housing ofthe imaging engine. In some such implementations, the controller 107causes the screen to display the determined target distance to a user.As such, the imaging engine device 100 may function as a range finder.In some implementations, the controller 107 only causes the screen todisplay the determined target distance when a range finding mode isenabled by the user. In further implementations, the controller 107 maycause the assembly to emit an audio cue in addition to or in place ofcausing the screen to display the determined target distance. Forexample, the imaging engine device 100 may read the target distancealoud for the user or may emit different noises to indicate differentranges (i.e., for 0-5 inches, 5-20 inches, 20-50 inches, etc.).

Next, at block 1006, the controller 107 causes a lens assembly of theimaging system 110 to focus a variable focus optical element on theobject of interest. In some implementations in which the imaging system110 includes a ball-bearing motor lens, the controller 107 sends anindication to the ball-bearing motor lens to focus on the object basedon the target distance. Depending on the implementation, block 1006 mayoccur before, after, or substantially simultaneously with part of block1004.

At block 1008, the controller 107 causes a digital zoom module 108and/or the imaging system 110 of the imaging engine 100 to select andoperate in a zoom operation mode based on the target distance. Theselection and operation may be based on a determination by thecontroller 107 to begin or change zoom mode operation. In someimplementations, the image taken by the imaging system 110 has aresolution greater than the preferred resolution for barcode decoding.For example, the image taken by the imaging system may have a resolutionof 4 megapixels while a preferred resolution for barcode decoding is 1megapixel. The zoom operation mode may be one mode out of multipledifferent zoom modes. In some implementations, the zoom operation modesinclude at least a Near FOV mode, a Far FOV mode, and an interleavedmode. Depending on the implementation, the zoom operation modes maycorrespond with the level of digital zoom. For example, the imagingsystem 110 may be fully zoomed out (i.e., no zoom) when operating in theNear FOV mode and may be fully zoomed in (i.e., zoomed in 2-3 times)when operating in the Far FOV mode.

While operating in the Near FOV mode, the controller 107 or the imagingengine 100 may operate by binning pixels in images taken by the imagingsystem 110. In some implementations, the imaging engine 100 performs 2×2binning, i.e., combining pixels in a 2 pixel by 2 pixel square into asingle super-pixel. The imaging engine 100 may perform 3×3 binning, 4×4binning, or any other suitable binning. In other implementations, theimaging engine 100 performs binning proportional to the factor ofdifference between the image reading resolution and the barcode decodingresolution (i.e., 2×2 binning is preferred for a resolution differenceof 4 megapixels vs. 1 megapixel).

While operating in the Far FOV mode, the controller 107 or the imagingengine 100 may operate by cropping a portion of the image. In someimplementations, the imaging engine 100 crops a smaller portion of theimage depending on the distance of the object, up to one quarter of thetotal area of the image. In further implementations, similar to binningin the Near FOV mode, the imaging engine 100 performs croppingproportional to the factor of difference between the image readingresolution and the barcode decoding resolution (i.e., a minimum croppingsize of one quarter is preferred for a resolution difference of 4megapixels vs. 1 megapixel).

While operating in the interleaved mode, the controller 107 or theimaging engine 100 may operate by interleaving cropping a portion of theimage and binning pixels as described above. In some implementations,the imaging engine 100 may crop up to a quarter of the image and may binpixels up to a 2×2 binning process, depending on the resolution ofimages taken by the imaging system 110 and the preferred resolution forbarcode decoding. Depending on the implementation, the cropping and thebinning may be performed alternatively, simultaneously, or one afteranother.

The controller 107 determines what operation mode the imaging engine 100is to operate in based on the determined target distance of the objectof interest. In some implementations, the controller 107 compares thedetermined target distance of the object to one or more threshold valuesin determining which zoom operation mode a zoom module 108 and/orimaging system 110 of the imaging engine 100 is to operate in. Forexample, the controller 107 may cause the imaging engine 100 to operatein the Near FOV mode when the target distance is below a first thresholdvalue, the Far FOV mode when the target distance is above a secondthreshold value, and the interleaved mode when the target distance isbetween the two threshold values. In some such implementations, theimaging engine operates in the Near FOV mode when the target distance isless than or equal to 8 inches, the Far FOV mode when the targetdistance is greater than or equal to 40 inches, and the interleaved modewhen the target distance is between 8 and 40 inches, non-inclusive.

Similarly, at block 1010, the controller 107 causes the imaging engine100 to select and operate in an illumination operation mode based on thetarget distance. The illumination operation mode may be one mode out ofmultiple different illumination modes. In some implementations, theillumination operation modes include at least a Reduced Power mode, aNear Illumination mode, and a Far Illumination mode. In some suchimplementations, the illumination module 180 alternates between twoillumination fields depending on the illumination operation mode. Forexample, the illumination module 180 may provide a first illuminationfield when operating in either of the Reduced Power or Near Illuminationmodes and may provide a second illumination field when operating in theFar Illumination mode. Similarly, the illumination module 180 mayinstead provide a first illumination field when operating in the NearIllumination mode and a second illumination field when operating in theReduced Power or Far Illumination modes.

The controller 107 determines what operation mode the imaging engine 100is to operate in based on the determined target distance of the objectof interest. In some implementations, the controller 107 compares thedetermined target distance of the object to one or more threshold valuesin determining which illumination operation mode the imaging engine 100is to operate in. For example, the controller 107 may cause the imagingengine 100 to operate in the Reduced Power mode when the target distanceis below a first threshold value, in the Far Illumination mode when thetarget distance is above a second threshold value, and in the NearIllumination mode when the target distance is between the first andsecond threshold values. In some such implementations, the imagineengine 100 operates in the Reduced Power mode when the target distanceis less than or equal to 24 inches, the Far Illumination mode when thetarget distance is more than or equal to 40 inches, and the NearIllumination mode when the target distance is between 24 and 40 inches,non-inclusive.

In some implementations, the controller 107 may determine that an objectswitches between two zoom and/or illumination operation modes. In suchimplementations, the controller 107 may change the operation modecorrespondingly. In some such implementations, rather than immediatelyswitch between illumination modes, the controller 107 instead implementsa delay period. As such, when the controller 107 determines that theimaging engine 100 should change illumination operation modes (i.e.,determines that the target distance surpasses or falls below a thresholdvalue), the controller 107 waits for a predetermined period beforeswitching modes. Depending on the implementation, the delay period maybe 0.1 seconds, 0.5 seconds, 1 second, 5 seconds or any other similarlysuitable length of time. In further implementations, the delay periodresets each time the controller 107 determines that the imaging engine100 should change illumination operation modes. For example, a targetmay be located approximately the threshold distance away between twomodes. A user operating the imaging engine may move the reader back andforth, causing the controller 107 to read target distances in bothoperation mode brackets before settling in one. After the delay periodpasses fully in the final operation mode bracket, the controller 107changes the illumination operation mode.

Though blocks 1008 and 1010 are described in one order, each of blocks1008 and 1010 may occur substantially simultaneously or in any orderbetween themselves. Similarly, in some implementations, blocks 1008 and1010 may occur substantially simultaneously with, before, or after block1006.

After determining the operation mode or modes in which the imagingengine device 100 should operate, the controller 107 may cause one ormore elements of the imaging engine device 100 to capture an imageincluding the target in the FOV. For example, the controller 107 maycause the aiming module 170 to direct an aim light pattern onto a targetbefore causing the autofocus module 220 to focus on the target. Thecontroller 107 may then cause the illumination module 180 to operate inan illumination mode before causing the digital zoom module 108 and/orthe imaging system 110 to zoom on the target and capturing an image. Inimplementations in which the target is a barcode, QR code, or othersimilar coded image, then after the imaging engine device 100 capturesthe image and/or crops an ROI of the image, the controller 107 decodesthe target.

The above-identified imaging engine device 100 can be implemented in thebarcode reader of FIGS. 11 and 12 . FIGS. 11 and 12 are exemplaryembodiments of an optical imaging reader 500 (also referred to as abarcode reader) and the components thereof. However, it will beunderstood that the above-identified imaging engine is not exclusivelyimplemented in barcode readers 500, and is instead able to beimplemented in any such device employing an image assembly with afield-of-view (FOV). With more specific reference to barcode readers, itwill be further understood that, although a particular embodiment of abarcode reader 500 is disclosed, this disclosure is applicable to avariety of barcode readers, including, but not limited to, gun-typehandheld readers, mobile computer-type readers, presentation readers,etc.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary barcodereader 500 having a housing 502 with a handle portion 504, also referredto as a handle 504, and a head portion 506 (also referred to as ascanning head 506). Depending on the implementation, the housing 502includes or is the chassis 150. The head portion 506 includes a window508, and is configured to be positioned on the top of the handle portion504. In some implementations, the window 508 may be the window 266and/or the window 310 discussed with regard to FIGS. 3 and 7 above. Thehandle portion 504 is configured to be gripped by a reader user (notshown) and includes a trigger 510 for activation by the user. Optionallyincluded in an embodiment is a base (not shown), also referred to as abase portion, which may be attached to the handle portion 504 oppositethe head portion 506, and is configured to stand on a surface andsupport the housing 502 in a generally upright position. The barcodereader 500 can be used in a hands-free mode as a stationary workstationwhen it is placed on a countertop or other workstation surface. Thebarcode reader 500 can also be used in a handheld mode when it is pickedup off the countertop or base station, and held in an operator's hand.In the hands-free mode, products can be slid, swiped past, or presentedto the window 508 for the reader to initiate barcode reading operations.In the handheld mode, the barcode reader 500 can be moved towards abarcode on a product, and the trigger 510 can be manually depressed toinitiate imaging of the barcode.

Other implementations may provide only handheld or only hands-freeconfigurations. In the embodiment of FIG. 11 , the reader 500 isergonomically configured for a user's hand as a gun-shaped housing 502,though other configurations may be utilized as understood by those ofordinary skill in the art. As shown, the lower handle 504 extends belowand rearwardly away from the body 502 along a centroidal axis obliquelyangled relative to a central FOV axis of a FOV of an imaging assemblywithin the scanning head 502.

For at least some of the reader embodiments, an imaging assemblyincludes a light-detecting sensor or imager 511 operatively coupled to,or mounted on, a printed circuit board (PCB) 514 in the reader 500 asshown in FIG. 12 . Depending on the implementation, the imaging assemblymay be or may include imaging system 110. Similarly the PCB 514 may bethe PCB or circuit board 102 of the scan engine device 100. In anembodiment, the imager 511 is a solid-state device, for example, a CCDor a CMOS imager, having a one-dimensional array of addressable imagesensors or pixels arranged in a single row, or a two-dimensional arrayof addressable image sensors or pixels arranged in mutually orthogonalrows and columns, and operative for detecting return light captured byan imaging lens assembly 515 over a field of view along an imaging axis517 through the window 508. In some implementations, the imaging lensassembly 515 includes elements of or the entirety of the rolling shutterrolling shutter sensor system 300. Similarly, in some implementations,the imager 511 is the imager 325 and/or an imager of imaging system 110.The return light is scattered and/or reflected from a target 513 overthe field of view. The imaging lens assembly 515 is operative forfocusing the return light onto the array of image sensors to enable thetarget 513 to be read. In particular, the light that impinges on thepixels is sensed and the output of those pixels produce image data thatis associated with the environment that appears within the FOV (whichcan include the target 513). This image data is typically processed by acontroller (usually by being sent to a decoder) which identifies anddecodes decodable indicial captured in the image data. Once the decodeis performed successfully, the reader can signal a successful “read” ofthe target 513 (e.g., a barcode). The target 513 may be located anywherein a working range of distances between a close-in working distance(WD1) and a far-out working distance (WD2). In an embodiment, WD1 isabout one-half inch from the window 508, and WD2 is about thirty inchesfrom the window 508.

An illuminating light assembly may also be mounted in the imaging reader500. The illuminating light assembly includes an illumination lightsource, such as at least one light emitting diode (LED) 519 and at leastone illumination lens 521, and preferably a plurality of illuminationLEDs and illumination lenses, configured to generate a substantiallyuniform distributed illumination pattern of illumination light on andalong the target 513 to be read by image capture. In a preferredembodiment, the illuminating light assembly is illumination module 180,described in detail with regard to optical assembly 400 of theillumination module 180 in FIG. 8 above. At least part of the scatteredand/or reflected return light is derived from the illumination patternof light on and along the target 513.

An aiming light assembly may also be mounted in the imaging reader 500and preferably includes an aiming light source 523, e.g., one or moreaiming LEDs or laser light sources, and an aiming lens 525 forgenerating and directing a visible aiming light beam away from thereader 500 onto the target 513 in the direction of the FOV of the imager511. In a preferred embodiment, the aiming light assembly is aimingmodule 170 as described with regard to FIG. 6 above.

Further, the imager 511, the illumination source 519, and the aimingsource 523 are operatively connected to a controller or programmedmicroprocessor 107 operative for controlling the operation of thesecomponents. A memory 529 is connected and accessible to the controller107. Preferably, the microprocessor 107 is the same as the one used forprocessing the captured return light from the illuminated target 513 toobtain data related to the target 513. Though not shown, additionaloptical elements, such as collimators, lenses, apertures, compartmentwalls, etc. As discussed with regard to FIGS. 1-9 are provided in thehead portion 506 of the housing. Although FIG. 12 shows the imager 511,the illumination source 519, and the aiming source 523 as being mountedon the same PCB 514, it should be understood that different embodimentsof the reader 500 may have these components each on a separate PCB, orin different combinations on separate PCBs. For example, in anembodiment of the reader, the illumination LED source is provided as anoff-axis illumination (i.e., has a central illumination axis that is notparallel to the central FOV axis).

The above description refers potential embodiments of the accompanyingdrawings. Alternative implementations of the examples represented by thedrawings include one or more additional or alternative elements,processes and/or devices. Additionally or alternatively, one or more ofthe example blocks of the diagrams may be combined, divided, re-arrangedor omitted. Components represented by the blocks of the diagrams areimplemented by hardware, software, firmware, and/or any combination ofhardware, software and/or firmware. In some examples, at least one ofthe components represented by the blocks is implemented by a logiccircuit. As used herein, the term “logic circuit” is expressly definedas a physical device including at least one hardware componentconfigured (e.g., via operation in accordance with a predeterminedconfiguration and/or via execution of stored machine-readableinstructions) to control one or more machines and/or perform operationsof one or more machines. Examples of a logic circuit include one or moreprocessors, one or more coprocessors, one or more microprocessors, oneor more controllers, one or more digital signal processors (DSPs), oneor more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), one or morefield programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), one or more microcontrollerunits (MCUs), one or more hardware accelerators, one or morespecial-purpose computer chips, and one or more system-on-a-chip (SoC)devices. Some example logic circuits, such as ASICs or FPGAs, arespecifically configured hardware for performing operations (e.g., one ormore of the operations described herein and represented by theflowcharts of this disclosure, if such are present). Some example logiccircuits are hardware that executes machine-readable instructions toperform operations (e.g., one or more of the operations described hereinand represented by the flowcharts of this disclosure, if such arepresent). Some example logic circuits include a combination ofspecifically configured hardware and hardware that executesmachine-readable instructions. The above description refers to variousoperations described herein and flowcharts that may be appended heretoto illustrate the flow of those operations. Any such flowcharts arerepresentative of example methods disclosed herein. In some examples,the methods represented by the flowcharts implement the apparatusrepresented by the block diagrams. Alternative implementations ofexample methods disclosed herein may include additional or alternativeoperations. Further, operations of alternative implementations of themethods disclosed herein may combined, divided, re-arranged or omitted.In some examples, the operations described herein are implemented bymachine-readable instructions (e.g., software and/or firmware) stored ona medium (e.g., a tangible machine-readable medium) for execution by oneor more logic circuits (e.g., processor(s)). In some examples, theoperations described herein are implemented by one or moreconfigurations of one or more specifically designed logic circuits(e.g., ASIC(s)). In some examples the operations described herein areimplemented by a combination of specifically designed logic circuit(s)and machine-readable instructions stored on a medium (e.g., a tangiblemachine-readable medium) for execution by logic circuit(s).

As used herein, each of the terms “tangible machine-readable medium,”“non-transitory machine-readable medium” and “machine-readable storagedevice” is expressly defined as a storage medium (e.g., a platter of ahard disk drive, a digital versatile disc, a compact disc, flash memory,read-only memory, random-access memory, etc.) on which machine-readableinstructions (e.g., program code in the form of, for example, softwareand/or firmware) are stored for any suitable duration of time (e.g.,permanently, for an extended period of time (e.g., while a programassociated with the machine-readable instructions is executing), and/ora short period of time (e.g., while the machine-readable instructionsare cached and/or during a buffering process)). Further, as used herein,each of the terms “tangible machine-readable medium,” “non-transitorymachine-readable medium” and “machine-readable storage device” isexpressly defined to exclude propagating signals. That is, as used inany claim of this patent, none of the terms “tangible machine-readablemedium,” “non-transitory machine-readable medium,” and “machine-readablestorage device” can be read to be implemented by a propagating signal.

In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have beendescribed. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates thatvarious modifications and changes can be made without departing from thescope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly,the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrativerather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intendedto be included within the scope of present teachings. Additionally, thedescribed embodiments/examples/implementations should not be interpretedas mutually exclusive, and should instead be understood as potentiallycombinable if such combinations are permissive in any way. In otherwords, any feature disclosed in any of the aforementionedembodiments/examples/implementations may be included in any of the otheraforementioned embodiments/examples/implementations.

The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) thatmay cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become morepronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essentialfeatures or elements of any or all the claims. The claimed invention isdefined solely by the appended claims including any amendments madeduring the pendency of this application and all equivalents of thoseclaims as issued.

Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first and second,top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish oneentity or action from another entity or action without necessarilyrequiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between suchentities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has”,“having,” “includes”, “including,” “contains”, “containing” or any othervariation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, suchthat a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has,includes, contains a list of elements does not include only thoseelements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherentto such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by“comprises . . . a”, “has . . . a”, “includes . . . a”, “contains . . .a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence ofadditional identical elements in the process, method, article, orapparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms“a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly statedotherwise herein. The terms “substantially”, “essentially”,“approximately”, “about” or any other version thereof, are defined asbeing close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and inone non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, inanother embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and inanother embodiment within 0.5%. The term “coupled” as used herein isdefined as connected, although not necessarily directly and notnecessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured” ina certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also beconfigured in ways that are not listed.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader toquickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It issubmitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpretor limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in theforegoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features aregrouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamliningthe disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter may lie in less thanall features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the followingclaims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with eachclaim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

1. A method for range finding and for detecting and imaging objectsusing an imaging engine having an imaging assembly having a field ofview (FOV), the method comprising: detecting, by a microprocessor, apresence of an aim light pattern within the FOV; determining, by themicroprocessor and in response to the detecting, a target distance of anobject in the FOV based on a position of the aim light pattern in theFOV, the target distance being a distance from the imaging engine to theobject; causing, by the microprocessor, a variable focus optical elementto focus on the object based on the target distance; responsive tomaking a first determination, by the microprocessor, selecting, based onthe target distance, one of a plurality of zoom operation modes; andresponsive to making a second determination, by the microprocessor,selecting, based on the target distance, one of a plurality ofillumination modes.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality ofzoom operation modes includes at least two of: (i) an image binningmode, (ii) an image cropping mode, and (iii) an image interleaving mode.3. The method of claim 2, wherein selecting one of the plurality of zoomoperation modes includes: responsive to determining the target distanceto be less than a lower threshold value, selecting the image binningmode; responsive to determining the target distance to be greater thanan upper threshold value, selecting the image cropping mode; andresponsive to determining the target distance to be between the lowerthreshold value and the upper threshold value, selecting the imageinterleaving mode.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the lower thresholdvalue is at most 12 inches and the upper threshold value is at least 24inches.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of illuminationoperation modes includes at least two of: (i) a power saving mode, (ii)a near illumination mode, and (iii) a far illumination mode.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, wherein selecting one of the plurality ofillumination operation modes includes: responsive to determining thetarget distance to be less than a lower threshold value, selecting thepower saving mode; responsive to determining the target distance to begreater than an upper threshold value, selecting the far illuminationmode; and responsive to determining the target distance to be betweenthe lower threshold value and the upper threshold value, selecting thenear illumination mode.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the lowerthreshold value is at most 24 inches and the upper threshold value is atleast 24 inches.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the microprocessortransmits a signal to cause the imaging engine to change to one of theplurality of illumination operation modes after a predetermined delayperiod elapses after making the determination.
 9. The method of claim 8,wherein the microprocessor changes to a different one of the pluralityof illumination operation modes during the predetermined delay period,further comprising: changing the signal based on the different one ofthe plurality of illumination operation modes before transmitting thesignal; and resetting the predetermined delay period in response to theupdating.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the variable focus opticalelement is a ball-bearing motor lens.
 11. The method of claim 1, whereinthe object is a barcode, further comprising: cropping a region ofinterest (ROI) including the barcode; and decoding the barcode.
 12. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising displaying, to a user, the targetdistance on a display communicatively coupled to the microprocessor. 13.An imaging engine for range finding and detecting objects, the imagingengine having an imaging assembly having a field of view (FOV) andcomprising: a variable focus optical element disposed along an opticalaxis to receive light from an object; an imaging sensor disposed alongthe optical axis to receive light from the variable focus opticalelement; a digital zoom module configured to modify an image receivedfrom the imaging sensor; an aiming module configured to generate anddirect an aim light pattern; an illumination module configured toprovide first illumination along a first illumination axis and secondillumination along a second illumination axis, the second illuminationaxis not coaxial with the first illumination axis; and a microprocessorand computer-readable media storing machine readable instructions that,when executed, cause the imaging engine to: detect a presence of the aimlight pattern in the FOV; responsive to the detecting, determine atarget distance of the object in the FOV based on a position of the aimlight pattern in the FOV, the target distance being a distance from theimaging engine to the object; responsive to making a firstdetermination, select, based on the target distance, one of a pluralityof zoom operation modes; and responsive to making a seconddetermination, select, based on the target distance, one of a pluralityof illumination operation modes; wherein the variable focus opticalelement, the digital zoom module, the aiming module, and theillumination module are communicatively coupled to the microprocessor.14. The imaging engine of claim 13, wherein selecting one of theplurality of zoom operation modes includes: responsive to determiningthe target distance to be less than a lower threshold, selecting animage binning mode; responsive to determining the target distance to begreater than an upper threshold value, selecting an image cropping mode;and responsive to determining the target distance to be between thelower threshold value and the upper threshold value, selecting an imageinterleaving mode.
 15. The imaging engine of claim 14, wherein thedigital zoom module is configured to, responsive to selecting the imagebinning mode, bin pixels of the image using at least one of: 2×2 pixelbinning, 3×3 pixel binning, or 4×4 pixel binning.
 16. The imaging engineof claim 14, wherein the digital zoom module is configured to,responsive to selecting the image cropping mode, crop a portion of theimage sized to at least one quarter of the image.
 17. The imaging engineof claim 13, wherein the digital zoom module receives the image with aresolution of at least 3 megapixels and zooms on the image with aresolution in a range of 0.5 to 2 megapixels.
 18. The imaging engine ofclaim 13, wherein selecting one of the plurality of illumination modesincludes: responsive to determining the target distance to be less thana lower threshold, selecting reduced power mode; responsive todetermining the target distance to be greater than an upper thresholdvalue, selecting a far illumination mode; and responsive to determiningthe target distance to be between the lower threshold value and theupper threshold value, selecting a near illumination mode.
 19. Theimaging engine of claim 13, wherein selecting the zoom operation modeincludes: responsive to determining the target distance to be less thana first lower threshold, selecting an image binning mode; responsive todetermining the target distance to be greater than a first upperthreshold value, selecting an image cropping mode; and responsive todetermining the target distance to be between the first lower thresholdvalue and the first upper threshold value, selecting an imageinterleaving mode; and wherein selecting the illumination operation modeincludes: responsive to determining the target distance to be less thana second lower threshold, selecting reduced power mode; responsive todetermining the target distance to be greater than a second upperthreshold value, selecting a far illumination mode; and responsive todetermining the target distance to be between the second lower thresholdvalue and the second upper threshold value, selecting a nearillumination mode.
 20. The imaging engine of claim 19, wherein the firstupper threshold value and the second upper threshold value are equal.21. The imaging engine of claim 20, wherein the first upper thresholdvalue and the second upper threshold value are at least 40 inches, thefirst lower threshold value is at most 8 inches, and the second lowerthreshold value is at most 24 inches.
 22. The imaging engine of claim13, wherein the imaging sensor is a rolling shutter sensor configured tooperate in at least (i) a first state wherein an obfuscator of therolling shutter sensor obfuscates a majority of radiation propagatingalong the optical axis and (ii) a second state wherein the obfuscator ofthe rolling shutter sensor transmits a majority of radiation propagatingalong the optical axis.
 23. The imaging engine of claim 22, wherein therolling shutter sensor is communicatively coupled to the microprocessor,and wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, furthercause the imaging engine to transition the rolling shutter sensorbetween the first state and the second state.
 24. The imaging engine ofclaim 22, wherein the rolling shutter sensor has a pixel size of at most2.0 micrometers.
 25. The imaging engine of claim 13, wherein theillumination module includes at least: a first illumination sourceconfigured to provide the first illumination; a second illuminationsource configured to provide the second illumination; a collimatorelement configured to collimate the first illumination and the secondillumination; and a microlens array element configured to receive thefirst illumination and the second illumination from the collimatorelement and further to provide a first output illumination field and asecond output illumination field.
 26. The imaging engine of claim 25,wherein the first illumination source includes a first white LED and thesecond illumination source includes a second white LED.
 27. The imagingengine of claim 25, wherein the first output illumination fieldcorresponds with a first modification of the image and the second outputillumination field corresponds with a second modification of the image.28. The imaging engine of claim 25, wherein at least one of the firstoutput illumination field or the second illumination field extends atleast 170 inches with no ambient light.
 29. The imaging engine of claim13, wherein the aiming module includes at least: a beam source assemblyhaving a beam source for generating the aim light pattern from an exitsurface, wherein the exit surface defines a central axis along which aninput light is to propagate; and a collimator assembly having a lensgroup that defines a tilt axis, wherein the tilt axis has a tilt anglerelative to the central axis and the lens group is positioned to deflectthe aim light pattern from the central axis onto the tilt axis.
 30. Theimaging engine of claim 13, wherein the aiming module generates anddirects the aim light pattern in a pulsed laser driving mode.
 31. Theimaging engine of claim 13, wherein the aim light pattern has awavelength of at least 505 nanometers and at most 535 nanometers. 32.The imaging engine of claim 13, wherein the variable focus opticalelement is a ball-bearing motor lens.
 33. The imaging engine of claim32, wherein the ball-bearing motor lens has a pupil diameter of at least2.0 millimeters and a focus range from 3 inches to infinity.
 34. Theimaging engine of claim 13, wherein the object is a barcode and whereinthe machine readable instructions, when executed, further cause theimaging engine to decode the barcode.
 35. The imaging engine of claim13, further comprising a display communicatively coupled to themicroprocessor, wherein the machine readable instructions, whenexecuted, further cause the imaging engine to display the distance to auser on the display.
 36. The imaging engine of claim 13, furthercomprising a chassis including a body defining at least one cavity,wherein each of the variable focus optical element, the imaging sensor,the digital zoom module, the aiming module, the illumination module, andthe microprocessor and computer-readable media are each at leastpartially disposed within the at least one cavity.
 37. The imagingengine of claim 13, wherein the imaging sensor is a single imagingsensor.